FCOE on Nexus 7000 & Nexus 5000

[darrenriley5]

Hi,

We are currently looking into how we can move towards a converged network using FCOE. Our network is pretty simple, 2 x N7Ks at DC1, 2 x N7Ks at DC2 terminating all server ethernet connections. 2 x MDS 9509 at DC1 and 2 x MDS 9509 terminating all server fc connections. We use dark fibre to internet connect the LAN & SAN networks so N7Ks at DC1 & DC2 connect to each other over the dark fibre and same for the MDS switches.

The long term aim is to move towards a fully converged network possibly using Nexus 5000 switches at the acess layer for FCOE connections to the servers and Nexus 7000 as a collapsed distribution/core layer. The thinking is we would move over to a converged network in phased migration so to start with the LAN & SAN traffic would be seperated out at the access layer from the Nexus 5000 switches, LAN traffic would then hit the N7Ks and the SAN traffic would hit the MDS switches.

My long term goal is to decommision the MDS switches and use the N7Ks as a storage director and connect the storage arrays to them.  The servers would connect to Nexus 5000 switches over FCOE which in turn connect to the N7Ks, at the back end a FCOE storage array would connect to the N7Ks

I'm aware we will need storage license and F series cards on the N7Ks to support this.  These are only very high level initial discussions but does this seem like a reasonable proposal at a high level?

Thanks

Darren  

[krun_shah]

You can move all you access layer to Converged ethernet using new CNAs  in server connecting them to N7K storage VDC which in turn connecting  FCoE module in MDS. This way you do not have to change the cabling plan  and keep the access layer switches at end of raw. Also you can keep your  storage systems Fiber channel attached and not have to go with FCoE  attached storage because most storage vendor do not support their  storage systems as FCoE attached.